Load-compensator.



W. S. MILLER.

LOAD COMPENSATOR. I APPLICATION FILED MAY I?, IIGI RENEWED (FEB. 25 |919.

1,300,755. y y Patented Apr. 15,1919.

iran srAra-s Para *wILLIAn-I s. MILLER, oE PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, AfssIeNon To ARTHUR w.

rUsEY, or rEnNwoon, PENNSYLVANIA.

LOAD-COMPENSATOR.

Application filed may 17, 1916, Serial No. 98,004.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. MILLER,

` a citizen of the United States, residing in in is a specification. e

y present invention consists of a novel construction of ya load compensator which can be employed in conjunction with any desired type of vehicle and which is especially applicable to motor driven vehicles.

Itfurther consists of a novel load compensator which includes a cushioning element and a spring element with a connection between themconstructed and arranged in such a mannerl that the parts cooperate to provide substantially the same resiliency irrespective of the load to which the vehicle is subjected. f

It `further consists of a novel construction of a load'compensator in which theratio of fleXibility of the spring suspension for the vehicle bodyis substantlally the same under any load'and wherein under maximum load the shock absorber has practically the full Vcapacityto work against shocks and road in-` equalities.

vIt further consists of a novel construction of load compensator which may be used in conjunction with any type ofvehicles by simply changing the type of lever employed and wherein the effective length ofthe level. arm which coperates with the4 vehlcle spring is automatically varied in accordance with n the variation ofload on the vehicle.

It further consists ofa novel device of the character stated, wherein the side sway of the vehicle body is prevented and wherein the eye of the spring is held to its line of travel in a guide boX carried by the vehicle spring or an extensiontherefrom.

the variousl instrumentalities of which my Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. I5, Iain. Renewed `:February 25, 1919. Serial No. 279,222.

invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and or` ganization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation, partly broken away, of a vehicle frame in conjunction with which a load compensator embodying my invention is employed.

Fig. 2 represents a sectional elevation showing certain of the parts seen in Fig. 1 in a different relation from that seen in said figure.

Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3-3 of Fig. `1.`

Fig. 4 represents a sectional elevation similar to that seen in Fig. 2, but showing the parts in the position they assume at a predetermined increase in load on the vehicle.

' Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates the frame or an extension thereof of a vehicle body which latter may be of any desired type. `My invention, however, is especially adapted to be employed in conjunction 4with vehicles which are motor driven. 2 designates a bracket which is xed to the frame 1 by means of fastening devices 3 of any desired type. The bracket 2 is provided withja table 4 which supports a spring 5 which is normally concealed within the telescoping sections 6 and 7 of the shock absorbing or cushioning member 8.

9 designates a spring abutment comprising a plate engaging the upper end of the spring 5 and to this plate is connected in any desired manner a rod 10, the lower end of which is connected to one end of a link 11, the otherend of said link being pivoted to one end of a lever 12 which is provided with trunnions 13 which are journaled in hubs 14 of the l guide boX formed by the de* pending standards 15, the latter being formed by bifurcating the lower end of the bracket 2. Inorder to stiifen the standards 15, their lower ends are connected by means of a fastening device 16.

17 designates a spring whichY may be of any desired or conventional .type and which is provided with any desired number of leaves, the outer one of Which, in the present instance, is deflected upon itself to form an eye 18 through which passes a rod 19, the ends of which are fixed in any desired manner to a bearing box 20, which is provided with a nlaterally extending bottom 21 and the upwardly projecting sides 22 to which latter the ends of the rod 19 are secured. The eye carrying leaf of the spring 17 has a bearing on the upper face of the bottom 21 and is retained in position and prevented from rattling by means of a cross member 23 secured to the sides 22 of the bearing box.

24 designates an anti-friction device of any desired type, such as a roll or other anti` friction bearing, and which is illustrated as consisting of a rod having its ends fixed in the side members 22 of the bearing box a desired distance below the upper spring suspension.

end thereof. The lever arm 25 is adapted to have its under face 26 rest upon the anti-friction roll 24, and the lever arm 25 is guided between the standards 15 of the bracket 2, as will be understood by reference to Figs; 2, 3 and 4.

It Will be understood that upon a predetermined increase in the load, the point of contact of the roller 24 with the lever connected with the shock absorbing element Will automatically vary in accordance With variations in load.

The spring 17 is connected with the bearing box 20 in any desired manner, so as to prevent relative movement of such bea-ring box and the spring 17 It will, of course, be apparent that the type of lever employed Will vary in accordance with the conditions and requirements met With in practice. Under any load the ratio 0f flexibility is the same and the capacity of the shock absorbing element is present to occasion and absorb the shocks to which the vehicle is subjected.

Under maximum load, the device has practically its full capacity to Work against the shocks and road inequalities.

The deflection of the frame or fioor of the vehicle is no greater than with ordinary Byvarying the capacity of the` springs, the flexibility can be correspondingly varied, as is apparent.

It Will further be apparent that the ratio ofthe load to the capacity of the shock absorbing elements is always the same.

It Willl also be apparent that in accordance With my present invention, I may employ any type of shock absorber or cushion, and any desired type of compression, ten- Sion, O r other type of springs may be e1n ployed to effect the cushioning action.

It will Ibe seen that any side sway ofthe springs is prevented, owing to the manner in Which they are carried by and ,guided in the bearing box.

In the embodiment shown, I employ a lever Whose point of fulcrum is fixed, said lever being operatively connected with the shock absorbing element and |said lever being connected with the spring in such a manner that the effective length of the lever arm automatically varies in accordance With the variation in load which the vehicle carries.

It Will, of' course, be understood that my present device can be employed in conjunction With any or all of the ordina-ry springs of a vehicle Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, i

It Will novv be apparent that I have devised aI novel and useful load compensator, Which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and theabove description, and` While I have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which Will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be undl'stood thatthe same is Susceptibleof modification in various particulars Without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionf or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a load compensator, al vehicle frame, a bracket carried thereby, a shock absorbingv element, a lever fulcrumed in said bracket and having one end operatively connected with said shock absorbing element, a` supporting spring, and a bearing memberucarried by the supporting springs, guided by said bracket, and in sliding` engagement withk the other end of said lever.

2. In a load compensator, a vehicle frame, a shock absorbing element carried by it, a supporting spring, a bearing box secured to` said spring, and a fulcrumed lever carried by said frame and having one. end operatively connected With said shock absorbing element and its other end havinga sliding connection With the bearing' box.

3. In a load compensator, a vehicle frame, a shock absorbing element carried byrvi-t, a supportingv spring, a lever carried byV said frame and2 having one end operatively conf nected with said lshock absorbin element, a 115 bearing box having a bottom` in caringV en;V gagement with the spring and having. sides,V and a bearing member carried by said sides` and in sliding engagement With the otherV end of said lever.

4. In a load compensator, a vehiclefvrame, a bracket carried by it, a compression slotrliiigV supported on said bracket, an abutmentV for the upper end of said spring, alever` pivotally carried by said vehicle` frame andgha-v- 125 ing one end operativelyl connectedwith said abutment, a supporting spring, and; n ,ieansV carried by said supporting spring ognL which the other end of said lever hasa sliding, bearing.

5. In a load compensator, a vehiele frame with an antifriction bearing on which the a shock absorbing element carried by said7 other end of said lever is free to slide.

frame, a, lever ivotall carried b said frame and having one eiid operativey con- WILLIAM S MILLER e nected with said shock absorbing element, a Witnesses:

supportin spring, and means iXed to an H. S. FAIRBANKS, end of Sadi supporting spring and provided C. D. MCVAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

